Employee Type:
Full time
Location:
IL Oak Brook
Job Type:
Production Operations
Job Posting Title:
Operations Readiness Manager
Job Description:
Schedule: Hybrid office schedule with up to 60% + travel expectations
Work Location: 2015 Spring Road Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, STD/LTD/AD&D/Life, HSA, FSA, EAP, Hospital indemnity, Accident Insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, Legal, and Critical Illness.
Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $93k - $140k annually with additional bonus potential
Position Responsibilities:
Lead complex, enterprise-wide projects through disciplined project management practices, overseeing detailed schedules, critical paths, deliverables, stakeholder communications, risk mitigation, and cross-functional alignment to achieve business objectives.
Lead cost and feasibility response for all new and reformulated products, as well as network moves. This involves coordination with R&D, Procurement, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Operations, and others.
Develop and manage detailed project timelines for new product introductions (NPIs) and network moves
Ensure all critical milestones are met (ingredient sourcing, packaging readiness, line trials, etc.)
Coordinate multiple simultaneous plant trials, scale-ups, and first production runs
Partner with plant teams to ensure materials, equipment, labor, and capacity are ready and available
Identify and mitigate production risks prior to launch
Ensure BOMs (Bill of Materials), routing, and specifications are accurate in systems
Ensure all products meet food safety, regulatory, and quality standards, as well as customer standards
Track and manage launch-related costs (waste, trial runs, overtime, etc.)
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency during scale-up
Support post-launch cost optimization efforts
Proactively identify risks to timelines, cost, or quality
Lead problem-solving efforts during trials and initial production
Escalate issues appropriately with recommended solutions
Qualifications and Requirements:
3–7 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or product commercialization
Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management, Supply Chain, Business or related field is preferred
Knowledge of food manufacturing processes and plant operations is highly preferred
Experience with new product launches or plant trials preferred
Experience with ERP systems (SAP)
Experience with stage-gate or commercialization processes
Understanding of food safety standards (e.g., HACCP, FSMA)
PMP Certification is preferred
Lean / Six Sigma experience is a plus
EEO Statement:
Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.